Coupon-confining bag, method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A coupon-confining bag wherein flexible transparent thermoplastic sheets are united along three sides to provide a separate interior compartment for a coupon.

United States Patent 1191 Sargent 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 I COUPON-CONFINING BAG, METHOD AND APPARATUS I751 Inventor: Cassius E. Sargent, Chicago. Ill.

[73] Assignee: PPC Industries Inc., Wheeling. Ill.

22 Filed: May 17,1971

21 Appl.No.: 143,889

52 US. Cl 229/56, 206/010v 22, 229/70 511 1111.0 ..B65d 31/12 5s1 Field of Search 229/56, 72, 71, 70-,

206/D1G. 22, 37 R. 37 A, DIG. 5, 39; 150/39 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Salflsberg 229/56 X Elmore 229/72 Carrigan el al. 44444 v. 229/70 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,149,044 4/1969 Great Britain 229/72 Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe AttorneyDawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [57} ABSTRACT A coupon-confining bag wherein flexible transparent thermoplastic sheets are united along three sides to provide a separate interior compartment for a coupon.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COUPON-CONFINING BAG, METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Many merchandisers have desired to include coupons in flexible packages, particularly packages of foods, candy, etc. The insertion of the coupon during the food-packaging operation has led to difficulties in material handling, besides possibly soiling the coupon, defacing or otherwise rendering it less attractive in marketing. The solution of these problems is provided by the instant invention, which provides a separate compartment for the coupon or other insert material, and at a point in the fabrication of the bag itself, so that there is a desirable separation of function. This is achieved through uniting webs in a fashion to provide an open end for stuffing, yet having three layers of flexible transparent thermoplastic web material readily heat sealable for completing the unit, with the bag thus being available for final stuffing with merchandise.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag constructed ac cording to teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1 as would be seen along the sight line 2-2 applied to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation (in plan view) of apparatus employable in the practice of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the apparatus and material of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of package produceable according to the teachings of this invention.

In the illustration given and with reference to FiG. l, the numeral designates generally a bag which confines a coupon 11.

As can be appreciated from consideration of FIG. 2, the bag 10 consists of a first outer panel 12 and a second outer panel 13 advantageously provided from a single web as by folding to provide one end 14 where the two outer panels are integrally united. A third panel 15 is interposed between the first and second outer panels 12 and 13 respectively, so as to develop a compartment 16 for the receipt of the coupon 11. The third panel 15 is united by a cross seal 17 to the second panel 13. The sides of the bag are closed by seals as at 18 and 19 so that the compartment or chamber 16 is defined by seals 17-19, leaving one end 20 unsealed in the illustration given. In some instances, a second seal may be employed to close the end 20. I

The inventive coupon-confining bag can be produced advantageously by the apparatus and method depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring now to those views, the numeral 21 designates a parent roll of flexible transparent thermoplastic material suitably supported on an unwind stand (not shown). As the web is unwound from the parent roll 21, it follows along a path and ultimately becomes the third panel 15. As the web 15 proceeds to the left (in the illustration given), it passes around a roll 22. There it is joined by another web 23 provided by a second parent roll of flexible transparent thermoplastic web material (such as polyethylene) as at 24. Again, suitable unwind equipment (not shown) is provided.

The web 23 is ultimately folded in V fashion by a former 25 so as to provide both the first and second outcr panels 12 and 13. As the web 23 approaches the roll 22, it creates with the web 15 a nip as at 26. Coupons are directed into the nip 26 by means of draw rolls 27, the coupons being initially provided in the form of a parent roll 28 providing a web 29. The advance of the coupon web 29 is controlled by three electric eyes. Two eyes, as at 30 and 31, scan the printed web 23. For example, a logo 32 (FIG. 1) may be employed for this purpose. Electric eye 30 signals a knife 33 to cut off the coupon in registration with the print. Electric eye 31 starts the draw rolls 27 by means of an electric clutch (not shown) to feed another coupon.

A third electric eye 34 scans a spot on the coupon web as at 35 (see FIG. 1), and stops the coupon with an electric brake (not shown) at the proper place for cutoff.

The webs 15 and 23 advance further along a predetermined path over a directing roll 36 and beneath a heat-sealing wheel 37 which developes the previously referred to line of union or seam 17. If desired, a second line of union can be formed at the same time to close the end 20. Thereafter, the united webs pass over the forming device 25 and are V folded as indicated in the upper left hand portion of FIG. 3. Suitable draw rolls or driving belts, as at 38, are provided for advancing the multi-ply web unit. Further along the path of travel of the multiply web unit, a cross sealing knife 39 is provided which unites the various web plies along lines transverse to the path of travel and between coupons so as to develop the side seals 18 and 19. Static electricity, characteristic of polyethylene or analogous thermoplastic materials, is advantageous in stabilizing the coupon in place until the side seals 18 and 19 are made.

After completion, the bags are employed for outer wrappings of food or other merchandise, the merchandise being stuffed into the bag 1.0 through the open mouth 40 (see FIG. 2). I

The bag 10 is advantageous in that after stuffing the distal end 13a (relative to the first-mentioned end 14) is sealed to the distal end 12a of the panel 12. This insures that the coupon 11 is confined completely within the bag 10, with no edge exposed as at 15a for a grasping means which might encourage pilferage. However, if the latter is not consider a problem, the arrangement seen in FIG. 5 can be employed. In FIG. 5, the bag is generally designated by the numeral and is seen to be made up of a first outer panel 112 and a second outer panel 113 connected at one end as at 114. A center or third panel 115 is provided which is seen to extend further from the end 114 than the second panel 113. Again, thesecond and 'thirdpanels 113 and 115, respectively, are united by means of a transverse heat seal as at 117. The chamber or compartment 116 between the panels 113 and 115 is seen to include a coupon 111. In the illustration seen in FIG. 5, there is a slight selvage edge at 113a relative to the second outer panel 113. When this modification of the invention is employed, the selvage edge 113 being exterior to the open mouth does not interfere with stuffing.

According to the invention, a wide variety of coupon materials may be confined within the chamber 16. in some instances the coupon may be relatively flimsy and in others relatively stiff, it being advantageous, however, to have sufficient self support with the coupon web so as to permit unrolling from the parent roll 28. Additionally, relatively flat materials supplemental to the merchandise contained within the main portion of the bag may be inserted in coupon-like fashion, such as foam supported elements.

I claim:

1. A coupon-confining bag comprising a rectangular thermoplastic flexible transparent sheet folded on itself to provide first and second outer panels united at one end thereof by a fold line, a third panel interposed between said first and second panels and united by a linear seal to said second panel a spaced distance from said one end, each of said second and third panels extends further from said one end than said third panel. 

1. A coupon-confining bag comprising a rectangular thermoplastic flexible transparent sheet folded on itself to provide first and second outer panels united at one end thereof by a fold line, a third panel interposed between said first and second panels and unIted by a linear seal to said second panel a spaced distance from said one end, each of said second and third panels extending beyond said linear seal on the side thereof remote from said one end, each of said second and third panels further extending from said linear seal toward said one end a coupon positioned between said second and third panels and also between said linear seal and said fold line, all three panels being united along spaced lines perpendicular to said one end.
 2. The bag of claim 1 in which said third panel extends further from said one end than said second panel.
 3. The bag of claim 1 in which said second panel extends further from said one end than said third panel. 